<p>My son got admitted to CMUs SCS, Columbias SEAS, and Cornells School of Engineering. He wants to study computer science and possibly to minor in business. We cant decide between CMU as one of the top computer science schools vs Ivy League prestige, name recognition, and future opportunities. Would you give up on Columbia/Cornell selectivity to attend CMU?</p>
<p>My impression is that Columbia graduates go on to more business-y management positions whereas CMU grads go on to actually become engineers or have more applied, hands on jobs (maybe a coder or a project designer or even a new tech startup).</p>
<p>If I were majoring in Computer Science I would choose CMU just because they have the best computer science program in the nation (maybe except for MIT or Stanford).</p>
<p>I would also take into consideration whether or not he wants a B.A. in Business or some other liberal arts degree. Columbia has excellent 3-2 and 4-1 programs to get both a B.A. and a B.S. (one from SEAS and the other from the main college). A B.A. from Columbia is very powerful asset.</p>
<p>I would (and did) choose CMU over Cornell. I’m not familiar enough with Columbia’s programs to make a comparison, but CMU does have 3-2 MBA programs with tepper as well. </p>
<p>Name recognition from CMU getting into the tech industry is not going to be a problem</p>
<p>yes, i’d chose CMU over the others. Pay attention to the news, CMU, is mentioned alot.</p>
<p>CMU is number one in CS, and is extremely well-known and respected in the tech world. Tepper is a great business school as well, and also quite well-known. Frankly, SCS is just as selective as many Ivies, and is in no way a grade below. Cornell and Columbia have excellent programs, but CMU wins out for CS, no question about it.</p>
<p>My comments are from the perspective of having a son 5 years out of CMU who went through there with apparently similar interests as yours.</p>
<p>First, CMU SCS is virtually ivy level as far as selectivity, ie mid to lower teens. My feel is SEAS, though strong because it’s Columbia, isnt an engineering/tech powerhouse like Cornell/CMU. NYC is the deal breaker—an irresistable plus for some, minus for others. Cornell has the obvious benefits (like name recognition) you already know. The location imo isn’t appealing.</p>
<p>My son majored in CS, plus IS (information systems—>business-like degree) and stayed a 5th year for masters in IS (MISM). Turned out to be a formidable combination in spite of the dotcom bubble bursting around him in his early CMU years. He remarked that in internship interviews there was virtually nothing an interviewer could ask him that he hadn’t covered somewhere in some course. Had pick of top NYC investment banks where he’s worked since graduation, doing remarkably well. If your son is CS/business inclined CMU is ideal. You can go in any direction. Silicon Valley knows it well. At this point I’d drop the selectivity issue and visit if you can. btw Pittsburgh is surprisingly nice city with enough to keep a college kid busy. And NYC is especially nice when you’re still young and have the money to really enjoy it.</p>